despres and engelland were very much the 3rd pairing tonight with about 12 minutes each of ES time. i think whichever one is scratched when letang gets back is largely irrelevant. our TEAM d looks pretty good right now

No offense against the guy, but I'm glad the handwringing over Bortuzzo seems to be over. I don't know what his future with the Pens, but a team gearing up for a serious cup run can't be concerned about that.

Since Kennedy became a regular in the lineup (ignoring his first season with us, that is). Just separating wins and losses (the data did not present OTL/SOL as an option), the Pens are 28-29 without Kennedy since 2008-09.

So the Pens are a 215-144 over that stretch (59.9% wins), but just 28-29 without Kennedy (49.1% wins).

Since Kennedy became a regular in the lineup (ignoring his first season with us, that is). Just separating wins and losses (the data did not present OTL/SOL as an option), the Pens are 28-29 without Kennedy since 2008-09.

So the Pens are a 215-144 over that stretch (59.9% wins), but just 28-29 without Kennedy (49.1% wins).

Since Kennedy became a regular in the lineup (ignoring his first season with us, that is). Just separating wins and losses (the data did not present OTL/SOL as an option), the Pens are 28-29 without Kennedy since 2008-09.

So the Pens are a 215-144 over that stretch (59.9% wins), but just 28-29 without Kennedy (49.1% wins).

I don't know how anyone could have watched that game last night and thought that despres is anything less than our best defensemen. He simpl has the most talent on our blue line. Oh. And he's the biggest player on the team.

Last edited by headh on Wed Mar 20, 2013 6:32 am, edited 1 time in total.

headh wrote:I don't know how anyone could have watched that game last night and thought that despres is anything less than our best defensemen. He simpl has the most talent on our blue line. Oh. And he's the biggest player on the team.

headh wrote:I don't know how anyone could have watched that game last night and thought that despres is anything less than our best defensemen. He simpl has the most talent on our blue line. Oh. And he's the biggest player on the team.

headh wrote:I don't know how anyone could have watched that game last night and thought that despres is anything less than our best defensemen. He simpl has the most talent on our blue line. Oh. And he's the biggest player on the team.

Not sure if sarcasm...

Please help me understand what he does poorly or why he isn't as good as he looks to me. I sincerely want to know your opinion.

Yeah, our best defenseman by a wide margin is letang, and then Martin. Then another wide margin and you have Orpik then another margin, and you have everyone else kind of bunched together. No one is saying that despres isn't good. But the hyperbole regarding how good he is is getting out of control

I guess I'm saying I don't know how someone could watch despres play 14 protected minutes on the bottom pairing and conclude he's the best defenseman in our team

Froggy wrote:Yeah, our best defenseman by a wide margin is letang, and then Martin. Then another wide margin and you have Orpik then another margin, and you have everyone else kind of bunched together. No one is saying that despres isn't good. But the hyperbole regarding how good he is is getting out of control

I guess I'm saying I don't know how someone could watch despres play 14 protected minutes on the bottom pairing and conclude he's the best defenseman in our team

When you say "protected minutes" are you saying that he only played a short period of time or that there was something specifically different about his 14 minutes of playing time? LOL

I have not read one single criticism from anyone on any media outlet or message board that is specific in nature. Every reason for Despres supposedly being less than excellent is vague at the very best. What does he need to improve upon? His skating, puck handling, decision making and size are all excellent. Not good...excellent. What is his weak area spefically?